Romans 10:3-4. Romans 10:3a-Israel Did Not Have An Experiential Knowledge Of God Because They Rejected God s Righteousness

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1 Romans 10:3-4 Romans 10:3a-Israel Did Not Have An Experiential Knowledge Of God Because They Rejected God s Righteousness In Romans 10:3a, Paul presents the reason why unsaved Israel did not have an experiential knowledge of God in the sense that they did not personally encounter Him through faith as He is revealed in the person and works of Jesus of Nazareth. The reason he states is that they rejected God s righteousness, which is offered in the gospel. Then, in Romans 10:3, he intensifies this statement in Romans 10:3a by teaching that because the Jews zealously sought to establish their own righteousness, they never submitted to God s righteousness, which is offered as a gift in the gospel of Jesus Christ and is received through faith alone in Christ alone. Let s read the first paragraph in the chapter, which appears in verses 1-4 and then concentrate on verse 3. Romans 10:1-4, Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Let s now look at verse 3 in detail. Romans 10:3, For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For is the causal use of the post-positive conjunction gar (gavr), which introduces the reason for Paul s statement in Romans 10:2, which teaches that the reason for Paul s consuming desire and intercessory prayer to the Father for the salvation of the unregenerate citizens of the nation of Israel is that they have a zeal for God but it is not according to an experiential knowledge of Him. By an experiential knowledge I mean that they did not personally encounter God through faith as He was revealed in the person and works of the incarnate Son of God, Jesus of Nazareth. Now, in Romans 10:3, Paul employs the conjunction gar to introduce a statement that presents the reason why Israel did not possess an experiential knowledge of God. They did not because they rejected God s righteousness. Thus, by way of implication, Romans 10:3 presents the reason why the nation of Israel was never justified through obedience to the Law. Therefore, we will translate gar, because William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 1

2 Romans 10:3, For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. Not knowing is the nominative masculine plural present active participle form of the verb agnoeo (a)gnoevw) (ag-no-eh-o), which is composed of the alpha prefix, not and the verb noeo, to perceive, understand, thus the word literally means, to not understand. This is the fifth time that we have seen the verb agnoeo in the book of Romans. In Romans 1:13, the word is used in relation to Paul s desire that the Roman believers would not be ignorant of his desire to visit them but that his work in the churches throughout the Roman Empire had prevented to that point. Romans 1:13, Now, I absolutely do not want all of you to be ignorant spiritual brothers that I have often planned in order to come to all of you and was prevented so far in order that I might also produce some fruit among all of you. In Romans 2:4, the verb agnoeo means, to refuse to think about or pay attention to, to ignore since the explanatory clause that follows states that the ignorance of the self-righteous Jew with regards to the character and nature of God is culpable. Romans 2:4, Or do you continue to hold in contempt His infinite kindness and tolerance and patience, habitually ignoring the fact that the kindness originating from God s character and nature is, as an eternal spiritual truth, leading you to repentance? In Romans 6:3, the verb means, to be ignorant concerning the teaching that sinners are identified with Jesus Christ in His physical death through the baptism of the Holy Spirit the moment they were declared justified by God the Father as a result of exercising faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 6:3, Or, are some of you in a state of ignorance concerning the fact that all of us who have been identified with Christ, who is Jesus, have been identified with His spiritual death? In Romans 7:1, the verb means, to be ignorant and is used to pose a rhetorical question of Paul s Jewish Christian readers regarding the fact that the Mosaic Law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives. Romans 7:1, Or, are some of you in a state of ignorance concerning this fact spiritual brothers (specifically, I am now addressing those who are very familiar with the Law through instruction), namely, that the Law does, as an eternal spiritual truth, have jurisdiction over a person during the entire extent of time they do live? Now, in Romans 10:3, agnoeo means, to reject God s righteousness in the sense of the righteousness that originates from God and is offered in the gospel as a 2009 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 2

3 gift from Him and is imputed by Him to the sinner the moment they exercise faith in His Son Jesus Christ resulting in the Father declaring the sinner justified. The word does not mean to be ignorant since the nation of Israel was exposed over and over again as to the manner in which God justified a sinner through their own Old Testament Scriptures, the teaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles. That Israel did indeed hear about the righteousness of God through the gospel and their own Old Testament Scriptures and rejected it is indicated by Paul s statements in Romans 10: Romans 10:14-21, How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS! However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT? So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have; THEIR VOICE HAS GONE OUT INTO ALL THE EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS TO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD. But I say, surely Israel did not know, did they? First Moses says, I WILL MAKE YOU JEALOUS BY THAT WHICH IS NOT A NATION, BY A NATION WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING WILL I ANGER YOU. And Isaiah is very bold and says, I WAS FOUND BY THOSE WHO DID NOT SEEK ME, I BECAME MANIFEST TO THOSE WHO DID NOT ASK FOR ME. But as for Israel He says, ALL THE DAY LONG I HAVE STRETCHED OUT MY HANDS TO A DISOBEDIENT AND OBSTINATE PEOPLE. The nation of Israel rejected God s righteousness in the sense that they refused to recognize that the righteousness of God can never be attained by obedience to the Law but rather is received from God as a gift and imputed by means of faith in Jesus Christ, which results in justification. Thus by implication they rejected the gospel of Jesus Christ since this is the content of the gospel for those sinners who seek to be justified by God. The word functions as a nominative subject and as substantive participle. The present tense is a retroactive progressive present, which refers to an action that has taken place in the past and continues up to the present. The emphasis is on the present time. Therefore, the retroactive progressive present of the verb indicates that Israel in the past rejected the righteousness of God and continues to do so up to the time Paul wrote this epistle. Paul does not put the word in the aorist tense since he not only wants to bring out the fact that Israel has rejected receiving God s righteousness through faith in Christ in the past but also that this rejection is taking place at the time he wrote this 2009 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 3

4 epistle. He doesn t put the word in the perfect tense since Israel will in the future during Daniel s Seventieth Week and at Christ s Second Advent forsake seeking their own righteousness and trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior. It is interesting that agnoeo and zeteo, seeking both are in the present tense but then Paul switches to the aorist tense when using the verbs histemi, to establish and hupotasso, they subject themselves. This further supports the interpretation that agnoeo and zeteo are retroactive progressive present tenses since this would account for Paul switching to the aorist tense with the other two verbs in the passage. He uses the retroactive progressive present tense of agnoeo and zeteo in order to not only indicate that Israel s rejection of God s righteousness took place in the past but also because he wants to emphasize that this rejection is taking place at the time of writing. The aorist tenses of histemi and hupotasso are constative aorist tenses emphasizing in summary fashion that Israel historically has rejected God s righteousness in favor of establishing their own. The fact that histemi and hupotasso are in the aorist tense is a temporal indicator indicating that agnoeo and zeteo are retroactive progressive present tenses. Paul puts agnoeo and zeteo in the present tense and not the aorist tense because he wants to emphasize with his readers that Israel is presently rejecting the gospel and still zealously seeking to establish their own righteousness. Whereas he puts the verbs histemi and hupotasso in the aorist tense since he wants to emphasize with his readers in summary fashion that because Israel has historically established their own righteousness by obedience to the Law, they never submitted to God s righteousness. The active voice indicates that the nation of Israel as the subject performs the action of the verb. We will translate agnoeo, they have in the past rejected and continue to do so up to the present moment. Romans 10:3, For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. God s righteousness is composed of the articular accusative feminine singular form of the noun dikaiosune (dikaiosuvnh) (dik-ah-yos-oo-nay), righteousness and the articular genitive masculine singular form of the noun theos (qeov$) (theh-os), God s. As we have noted in detail in our studies of the book of Romans, the noun dikaiosune refers to the integrity and virtue of God. Thus, the word refers to the Father s perfect integrity in that His character is perfectly sound, perfectly adhering to His own perfect standards and what He promises to men. It is all that 2009 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 4

5 God is all that He commands, all that He demands, all that He approves, and all that He provides through Christ. Dikaiosune refers to the Father s perfect integrity in that His character is upright, honest, perfectly whole, undiminished, sound, unimpaired and in perfect condition. The noun refers to the Father s perfect virtue in that His character is perfect moral excellence, goodness, and His conduct is conformed perfectly to His own perfect standards and what He has promised to men. The word thus denotes an attribute of God. Deuteronomy 32:4, The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He. Psalm 11:7, For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; The upright will behold His face. In the Septuagint, the noun dikaiosune was used primarily to denote an attribute of God and to describe His relationship to both Israel and the Gentiles. In the Greek New Testament, the noun dikaiosune was used primarily to denote an attribute of God and also refers to the righteousness of Jesus Christ that is imputed to the person who accepts Him as their Savior. The word is also used in relation to the believer experiencing the righteousness of Jesus Christ after salvation by appropriating the teaching of the Word of God that they have been crucified, died, buried, raised and seated with Christ (See Romans 6). The noun dikaiosune, righteousness also referred to fulfilling one s obligations to love both God and men, doing right to both God and men. The Lord Jesus Christ manifested the righteousness of God during His 1 st Advent, which was witnessed by the Law and the Prophets in the Old Testament Scriptures (Romans 3:21-26). The Lord was made our Substitute in order that we might receive the imputation of God s righteousness and live in that righteousness. 2 Corinthians 5:21, He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 1 Peter 2:24, and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. The Bible teaches that there are two categories of righteousness: (1) Absolute righteousness originating in the essence of God revealed by the Spirit in the Word of God and in the Person of Christ (2) Relative righteousness, which is rooted in man s comparison of himself with other men. The Bible teaches that the entire human race both Jew and Gentile do not measure up to the righteousness of God and are therefore condemned before God but qualified for grace (Romans 1:18-3:20) William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 5

6 God does not accept relative human righteousness but rather demands His own absolute perfect righteousness. The only way that man can acquire this absolute perfect righteousness required by God to have a relationship with Him is by means of faith alone in Christ alone. Man s relative righteousness falls infinitely short of God s absolute righteousness in the Person of Christ. Isaiah 64:6, For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; and all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. The righteousness of God can never be attained by anyone through human power and dynamics or by keeping the Mosaic Law but rather it is received as a gift through faith in Jesus Christ who is the righteousness of God incarnate. The works of the Law can never attain the righteousness of God (Titus 3:5). Titus 3:5-7, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to {the} hope of eternal life. The nation of Israel sought to establish their own righteousness rather than accept by faith the righteousness of God in the Person of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:1-10). The righteousness of God is received as a gift and is imputed to the person who exercises faith alone in Christ alone. By imputed I mean that God credits to the believer the perfect integrity and virtue of Christ. The work of transforming the believer into the image of Christ involves the manifestation of the righteousness of God in the believer, which like the believer s sanctification and deliverance is accomplished in three stages: (1) Positionally, at the moment he exercises faith in the gospel message and trusts in Jesus Christ as his Savior. At the moment of spiritual birth, God imputed His righteousness to the believer so that he is positionally the righteousness of God meaning God has given His righteousness as a gift to the believer and He views the believer as righteous as Him. This in turn sets up the potential for the believer to experience this righteousness in time. Therefore, the moment a person believes in Jesus Christ as Savior, God the Father imputes the righteousness of Christ so that He becomes the believer s righteousness. 1 Corinthians 1:30, But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 6

7 (2) Experientially, after salvation when the believer exercises faith in the gospel message that he has been crucified, died, buried, raised and seated with Christ. After salvation, the believer is commanded to present the members of his physical body as instruments of righteousness, which is accomplished by appropriating by faith the imputed righteousness they received at salvation (See Romans 6). This faith is demonstrated by the believer through his obedience to the teaching that he has died with Christ and has been raised with Him (See Romans 6:11-13). Romans 6, Therefore, what is the conclusion that we are forced to? Should we persist in living under the dominion of the sin nature in order that grace might increase? Absolutely not! We, who are indeed of such character and of a particular class of individuals, have died with reference to the sin nature, how shall we still live under its dominion? Or, are some of you in a state of ignorance concerning the fact that all of us who have been identified with Christ, who is Jesus, have been identified with His spiritual death? Therefore, we have been buried with Him through baptism with respect to His physical death in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead ones through the glory of the Father, in the same way, we, ourselves will also walk in the realm of an extraordinary life. Therefore, if and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that we are entered into union with Him, conformed to His physical death. Of course, we believed this is true. Then, certainly, we will also be united with Him, conformed to His resurrection. This we are very familiar with through instruction, namely, that our old man was crucified with Him in order that the sinful body would be deprived of its power with the result that we are no longer in a perpetual state of being slaves to the sin nature. For you see the one who has died is freed from the power of the sin nature. Now, as previously stated, if and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that we have died with Him. Of course, we have already established that this is true. Then, we do have this absolute confidence that we, as a certainty, will in the future also live with Him because we know for certain, namely that because Christ was raised from the dead ones, He can never again, as an eternal spiritual truth, die. Death can never again, as an eternal spiritual truth, have dominion over Him. For you see, the physical death that He died, He died for the destruction of the sin nature once and for all but the life that He now lives, He lives forever for the benefit of God the Father. In the same way, also, on the one hand, all of you without exception make it your habit to regard yourselves as dead ones with respect to the sin nature while on the other hand those who are, as an eternal spiritual truth, alive with respect to God the Father in union with Christ, who is Jesus. Therefore, do not make it a habit to let the sin nature reign as king in your 2009 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 7

8 mortal body with the result that you habitually obey its lusts. Nor, all of you place the members of your body at the disposal and benefit of the sin nature as instruments, which produce unrighteousness but rather I solemnly charge all of you to place yourselves at the disposal and benefit of God the Father as those who are, as an eternal spiritual truth, alive from the dead ones and in addition your members as instruments, which produce righteousness for the benefit of God the Father and do it now! For the sin nature, will, as a certainty, never again, have dominion over all of you for all of you, as an eternal spiritual truth, are by no means under the authority and dominion of the Law but rather under the authority and dominion of grace. What shall we conclude then? Should we commit an act of sin because we, as an eternal spiritual truth, are by no means under the authority and dominion of the Law but rather under the authority and dominion of grace? Absolutely not! Are you totally unaware concerning this fact, namely that the one whom you desire to place yourselves at the disposal of as slaves for obedience, you will be slaves for the benefit of this one whom you desire to obey, either the sin nature resulting in temporal spiritual death or obedience to the Father s will resulting in righteousness? But now, thank God! Because all of you were once in a perpetual state of being slaves to the sin nature but then all of you obeyed from the heart that particular doctrinal standard with respect to which all of you were taught through instruction and also, because having been set free from the tyranny of the sin nature, all of you became slaves of righteousness. I am speaking according to your human frame of reference because of the weakness, which is your flesh. Therefore, just as all of you placed your members as slaves at the disposal of and with respect to that which is impurity and in addition with respect to that which is lawlessness resulting in further lawlessness, in the same way, now, I solemnly charge all of you to place your members as slaves at the disposal of and with respect to righteousness resulting in sanctification and do it now! For you see, when all of you were once in a perpetual state of being slaves to the sin nature, all of you were in a perpetual state of being free with respect to righteousness. Therefore, what benefit were all of you at that time in a perpetual state of possessing because of those things, which all of you are now at the present time ashamed of? In fact, the result produced by these things is, as an eternal spiritual truth spiritual death. But now, at the present time, because all of you have been set free from the tyranny of the sin nature and because all of you have become slaves to God the Father all of you at the present time possess your benefit (of being a servant of God) resulting in sanctification and the result, eternal life. For you see the sin nature pays out spiritual death however God the Father graciously gives eternal life in the Person of Christ, who is Jesus, our Lord William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 8

9 (3) Ultimately, when he receives his resurrection body at the rapture of the church. Galatians 5:5, For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. The apostle Paul in Philippians 3 describes his exchange of his pre-salvation self-righteousness as a Pharisee for the righteousness of Christ as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:2-11, Beware of those dogs, beware of those evil workers, beware of the mutilation because we are the circumcision those who are serving (God the Father) by means of the Spirit of God, who are priding themselves in the nature of Christ Jesus, who have no confidence in the flesh. Although I myself having confidence in the flesh, if anyone of the same race (i.e., Jewish) claims to have confidence in the flesh and some claim to have confidence in the flesh, I more. With respect to circumcision: eighth day, descended from the nation of Israel, a member of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew (speaking Jew) from Hebrews (Hebrew speaking parents), legalistically: a Pharisee, zealously persecuting the church, self-righteously religious: I conducted myself irreproachably! Nevertheless, what presalvation distinctions were assets for me, these I have come to regard as a liability because of the Christ. Furthermore in fact, yes without a doubt, I continue to regard each today as a liability because of the incomparable knowledge pertaining to Christ Jesus, my Lord because of whom I have renounced all of them, even regarding all of them as piles of excrement in order that I might gain Christ-likeness. So that I might be identified with Him, not by possessing my own legalistic righteousness, but rather faithful Christ-likeness, the divine righteousness based upon doctrine that I come to know Him experientially and the power from His resurrection and the participation in His sufferings by my becoming like Him with respect to His death. If somehow (by becoming like Him with respect to His death), I may attain to the exit-resurrection, namely, the one out from the (spiritually) dead ones. The new Christ nature received at the moment of salvation was created in the righteousness of God and holiness from the truth according to Ephesians 4:24. Ephesians 4:24, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. In Philippians 1:9-11, one of the objectives of Paul prayer for the Philippians was that they would produce fruit to God through the function of the nature of Christ, i.e. the righteousness of Christ. Philippians 1:9-11, Now, this I make it a habit to pray that your divinelove might continue to flourish yet more and more by means of a total 2009 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 9

10 discerning experiential knowledge so that all of you might continue to choose the essentials in order that all of you might be sincere and without offense for the day of Christ by all of you being filled with the fruit produced by righteousness, which is by means of the nature of Jesus who is the Christ for the ultimate purpose of glorifying and praising God. The Lord Jesus Christ commanded His disciples to seek after God s righteousness. Matthew 6:33, But above all else (number one priority in life), all of you make it your habit to diligently, earnestly and tenaciously seek after the kingdom of the God and His righteousness (grow to spiritual maturity), sparing no effort or expense, and as a result all these things will be provided for all of you. Paul commanded Timothy to pursue living in the righteousness of Christ (See Timothy 2:22). 1 Timothy 6:11, But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. 2 Timothy 2:22, Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. The Word of God trains the believer to live in the righteousness of Christ. 2 Timothy 3:16-17, All Scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. In fact, the Word of God is designated in Hebrews 5:13 as the Word of righteousness. Hebrews 5:13-14, For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. The believer who practices the righteousness of God by living in the new Christ nature demonstrates that he is born again of God and a child of God. 1 John 2:29, If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him. The children of the devil and the children of God are distinguished from each other because the latter practice the righteousness of God and the former practice evil according to 1 John 3:10. 1 John 3:1-10, See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 10

11 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. The righteousness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is our invisible weapon is against Satan and the kingdom of darkness since he is commanded in Scripture to protect himself in spiritual combat with the righteousness of Christ, which is called in Ephesians 6:14, the breastplate of righteousness. Ephesians 6:14, Therefore, I solemnly charge all of you to stand your ground. I solemnly charge all of you to buckle yourselves up, your waist with the belt of truth. Also, I solemnly charge all of you to clothe yourselves with the breastplate, which is (the divine) righteousness (of Christ) Undeserved suffering and divine discipline are designed to produce the righteousness of God in our lives and not to hurt us. Hebrews 12:11, All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. If the believer enters into committing any mental, verbal or overt act of sin after salvation, he can rest assured that he has an advocate with the Father, namely Jesus who is the righteous Christ. 1 John 2:1, Now, if anyone does enter into committing an act of sin, then we possess as an Advocate with the Father, Jesus who is the righteous Christ. The believer who is obedient to the Word of God will produce fruit that is acceptable to God since the Word of God is righteous in character. Psalm 1, How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but they are like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the 2009 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 11

12 assembly of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. Properly motivated grace giving is called righteousness according to 2 Corinthians 9:10. The production of divine good is called the fruit of righteousness, which is the result of living in the new Christ nature by being obedience to the Word of God. Ephesians 5:9, (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth). The believer will be rewarded with a crown of righteousness by the Lord Jesus at the Bema Seat for executing the Father s will and growing to spiritual maturity according to 2 Timothy 4:8. 2 Timothy 4:7-8, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. By means of His righteousness, the Lord Jesus Christ at His Second Advent will wage a war against His enemies and judge them. Revelation 19:11, And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. This is the twenty seventh time that we have seen the noun dikaiosune in the book of Romans. In Romans 1:17, the noun dikaiosune means, righteousness and refers to the righteousness of Christ since Paul writes that the gospel reveals the righteousness of God and in Romans 1:3-4 he writes that the gospel message centers upon the Person of Christ. Romans 1:16-17, For I am never ashamed of the gospel for it is as an eternal spiritual truth God s power resulting in deliverance for the benefit of everyone who as an eternal spiritual truth believe, to the Jew first and then to the Greek. For by means of it, the righteousness originating from God is as an eternal spiritual truth revealed from faith to faith. Just as it stands written for all of eternity, But the righteous shall choose for himself to live by means of faith. Romans 1:1-4, Paul, a slave owned by Christ who is Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel originating from God, which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures concerning His Son, who was born as a descendant of David with respect to His human nature. The One demonstrated as the Son of God by means of divine power with 2009 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 12

13 respect to a nature characterized by holiness because of the resurrection from the dead ones, Jesus Christ, our Lord. The righteousness of Christ refers to the character of Christ having perfect integrity in the sense that His character is perfectly sound, perfectly adhering to the will of God, which is upright, honest, perfectly whole, undiminished, sound, unimpaired and in perfect condition. The righteousness of Christ refers to the character of Christ having perfect virtue in the sense that His character is perfect moral excellence, goodness, and His conduct is conformed perfectly to the will of God. In Romans 3:5, the noun dikaiosune means, righteousness and is used to describe God as indicated by the articular genitive form of the noun theos, which modifies it. Romans 3:5, But, if-and let us assume that it s true for the sake of argument our unrighteousness does cause God s righteousness to be made conspicuous. What then is the conclusion that we are forced to? Is God unrighteous, while inevitably exercising His righteous indignation? (I am speaking according to human viewpoint.) No! The word appears again in Romans 3:21. Romans 3:21, But now, independently of seeking to be justified by obedience to the Law, the righteousness originating from God is being manifested at the present time while simultaneously being attested to by the Law and the Prophets. In this passage, the noun dikaiosune is an attribute of God and means that God is perfect integrity in the sense that His character is perfectly sound, perfectly adhering to His own perfect standards and what He promises to men. It also indicates that God s character is upright, honest, perfectly whole, undiminished, sound, unimpaired and in perfect condition. The word means that God is perfect virtue in the sense that His character is perfect moral excellence, goodness, and His conduct is conformed perfectly to His own perfect standards and what He has promised to men. Dikaiosune is found in Romans 3:22 where it refers to an attribute of God referring to His perfect integrity and virtue. Romans 3:22, Namely, the righteousness originating from God through faith in Jesus who is the Christ for the benefit of each and every person who does believe for there is, as an eternal spiritual truth, absolutely no distinction. The noun appears in Romans 3:25 where it again refers to God s attribute of righteousness. Romans 3:25, Whom God the Father offered publicly as a propitiatory gift through faith by means of His blood in order to demonstrate His 2009 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 13

14 righteousness because of the deliberate and temporary suspension of judgment of the sins, which have taken place in the past on the basis of the tolerance originating from the character and nature of God the Father. This passage teaches us that the offering of His Son Jesus Christ publicly at the Cross of Calvary as a propitiatory gift to sinful mankind by means of His Son s spiritual death on the Cross demonstrated the Father s righteousness in the sense that it manifested His perfect virtue and integrity. It demonstrated His perfect virtue and integrity since God perfectly adhered to His own perfect holy standards expressed in His Law, which demanded that sin be judged. Also, it demonstrated His perfect virtue and integrity in the sense that it fulfilled the promises of a Savior that He made to the human race that are recorded in the Old Testament Scriptures who would provide salvation through His sacrificial death. The noun dikaiosune also refers to the fact that God always does right by man or treats Him fairly. Thus, the offering of His Son Jesus Christ publicly at the Cross of Calvary as a propitiatory gift to sinful mankind demonstrated the Father s righteousness since although He is holy and man is a sinner, He has been gracious to man by withholding judgment and providing them salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Sinful mankind has been tolerated by a holy God and treated graciously by Him meaning better than they deserve. The spiritual death of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary demonstrated God s righteousness in that it manifested God s conformity to His own perfect standards that sin must be judged and thus it manifested His hatred of sin. Also, the spiritual death of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary demonstrated God s righteousness in that it manifested God keeps His promises to mankind that He would provide them salvation through a Savior. Lastly, it demonstrated the righteousness of God in that it manifested God always does right by mankind even when mankind is antagonistic to God. Therefore, the offering of His Son Jesus Christ as a propitiatory gift to sinful mankind by means of His Son s spiritual death on the Cross was in keeping with the Father s righteousness, His holy character. It demonstrated His love for sinners and hatred of sin. The noun dikaiosune is also found in Romans 3:26. Romans 3:26, Correspondingly, in relation to the demonstration of His righteousness during this present distinct period of history, that He Himself is, as an eternal spiritual truth, inherently righteous, even while justifying anyone by means of faith in Jesus William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 14

15 In Romans 3:26, Paul is saying that the righteousness of the Father that was manifested through His Son s spiritual death on the Cross is now being manifested in human history during the church age through the communication of the gospel. Dikaiosune appears in Romans 4:3. Romans 4:3, For what does the Scripture say? Abraham had absolute confidence in (the Son of) God. Consequently, for his benefit, it was credited and regarded as righteousness. In this passage, the noun dikaiosune refers to the righteousness of God in the sense of His perfect virtue and integrity, which was imputed to Abraham the moment he exercised faith in the Lord to deliver on His promises. The noun appears again in Romans 4:5. Romans 4:5, On the other hand, for the benefit of the one who does not work hard but does exercise absolute confidence in the One who, as an eternal spiritual truth, justifies the ungodly, his faith is, as an eternal spiritual truth, credited and regarded as righteousness. In Romans 4:5, the noun dikaiosune refers to the righteousness of God in the sense of His perfect virtue and integrity, which is imputed to the sinner the moment they exercise faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. Dikaiosune is found in Romans 4:6 where it refers to the righteousness of God in the sense of His perfect virtue and integrity, which is imputed or credited to the sinner the moment they exercise faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. Romans 4:6, In fact, in the same way, David also describes the blessing that produces a happiness in the person that is divine in quality for the benefit of whom God (the Father) as an eternal spiritual truth credits (divine) righteousness independently of meritorious actions. We see the word again in Romans 4:9. Romans 4:9, Then is, as an eternal spiritual truth, this blessing that produces a happiness that is divine in quality upon the circumcised, or also upon the uncircumcised? For we contend, Faith was credited and regarded as righteousness for the benefit of Abraham. In Romans 4:9, the noun dikaiosune refers to the righteousness of God in the sense of His perfect virtue and integrity, which is imputed to the sinner the moment they exercise faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. Thus, the word refers to the God s perfect integrity in that His character is perfectly sound, perfectly adhering to His own perfect standards and what He promises to men. Dikaiosune refers to the Father s perfect integrity in that His character is upright, honest, perfectly whole, undiminished, sound, unimpaired and in perfect condition. The noun refers to the Father s perfect virtue in that His character is perfect moral excellence and goodness. The noun dikaiosune appears twice in Romans 4: William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 15

16 Romans 4:11, In fact, he had undergone the distinguishing mark, namely, circumcision as confirmation of the righteousness, that is by means of faith, which he had when uncircumcised in order that he himself might, as an eternal spiritual truth, be the spiritual father over each and every person who does believe while uncircumcised so that righteousness might be credited to them for their benefit. In both instances, the word refers to the righteousness of God in the sense of His perfect virtue and integrity, which is imputed or credited to the sinner the moment they exercise faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. Again, the word refers to the Father s perfect integrity in that His character is upright, honest, perfectly whole, undiminished, sound, unimpaired and in perfect condition. The noun refers to the Father s perfect virtue in that His character is perfect moral excellence, goodness, and His conduct is conformed perfectly to His own perfect standards and what He has promised to men. The noun dikaiosune also refers to the fact that God always does right by man or treats man fairly. This same meaning of the word is found again in Romans 4:13. Romans 4:13, For the promise to Abraham or to his Descendant that he himself, as an eternal spiritual truth, would inherit the earth was, as an eternal spiritual truth, never by means of obedience to the (Mosaic) Law but rather by means of the righteousness produced by faith. It refers again to the imputation of divine righteousness in Romans 4:22. Romans 4:22, Therefore, for this very reason, for his benefit it was credited and regarded as righteousness. In Romans 5:17, the noun dikaiosune refers to the righteousness of God in the sense of His perfect virtue and integrity, which was imputed to the sinner the moment they exercised faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. The moment a sinner trusts in Jesus Christ as Savior, God the Father imputes His righteousness to the sinner so that Jesus Christ becomes the believer s righteousness. Romans 5:17, For if, and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that by means of the transgression committed by the one, spiritual death reigned as king through this one. Of course, we know this is true. Then, how much more those who do receive His transcendent grace, specifically, the gracious gift, which is His righteousness, will, as a certainty, reign as kings by means of life through the One, who is Jesus, who is the Christ. In Romans 5:21, the noun dikaiosune refers once again to the righteousness of Christ in the sense of His perfect virtue and integrity, which was imputed to the sinner the moment they exercised faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. Romans 5:21, In order that just as, the sin nature reigned as king in the realm of spiritual death in the same way, also grace would reign as king 2009 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 16

17 through righteousness resulting in eternal life through Jesus, who is the Christ, who is our Lord. The moment a sinner trusts in Jesus Christ as Savior, God the Father imputes His righteousness to the sinner so that Jesus Christ becomes the believer s righteousness. It is Christ s righteousness since it was His obedience to the Father s will in dying substitutionary spiritual death for all of sinful mankind that propitiated the Father s holiness that demanded that sin and sinners bear the full brunt of His righteous indignation. Paul s statements in Romans 5:17-18 clearly that dikaiosune in Romans 5:21 is a reference to Christ s righteousness that is imputed to the sinner when the sinners exercises faith in Him as their Savior. Romans 5:17-18, For if, and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that by means of the transgression committed by the one, spiritual death reigned as king through this one. Of course, we know this is true. Then, how much more those who do receive His transcendent grace, specifically, the gracious gift, which is His righteousness, will, as a certainty, reign as kings by means of life through the One, who is Jesus, who is the Christ. Therefore, as previously stated, just as through the one who committed the transgression resulted in condemnation affecting each and every member of the human race without exception in the same way also through the One who committed the righteous act resulted in the basis for the offer of justification, which produces (eternal) life, affecting each and every member of the human race without exception. Consequently, this enabled to extend grace to the entire human race based upon the merits of Jesus Christ and His spiritual death on the Cross. This death redeemed mankind out of the slave market of sin, propitiated the Father s holiness that required that sin and sinners be judged, fulfilled the righteous requirements of the Law and reconciled the sinner to a holy God. Therefore, since Christ s death propitiated Him, the Father was now free to impart unmerited blessings to sinners whenever they exercise faith in His Son Jesus Christ as Savior. The noun dikaiosune appears in Romans 6:13. Romans 6:12-13, Therefore, do not make it a habit to let the sin nature reign as king in your mortal body with the result that you habitually obey its lusts. Nor, all of you place the members of your body at the disposal and benefit of the sin nature as instruments, which produce unrighteousness but rather I solemnly charge all of you to place yourselves at the disposal and benefit of God the Father as those who are, as an eternal spiritual truth, alive from the dead ones and in addition your members as instruments, which produce righteousness for the benefit of God the Father and do it now! 2009 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 17

18 In Romans 6:13, the noun describes the actions of believers since the word functions as a genitive of product meaning that it is the product of the noun hoplon, instruments to which it stands related. Thus, the noun dikaiosune, righteousness as a genitive of product indicates that the members of the body of these Roman believers are to produce this righteousness. Here it refers to actions on the part of the believer, which are upright, honest, perfectly whole, undiminished, sound, unimpaired and in perfect condition. It refers to actions on the part of the believer that reflect moral excellence, goodness, and conduct that is conformed perfectly to the will of God. In Romans 6:13, the word refers to the actions of believers are in obedience to all that God commands, all that He demands, all that He approves and all that He provides through Christ. We saw dikaiosune in Romans 6:16. Romans 6:16, Are you totally unaware concerning this fact, namely that the one whom you desire to place yourselves at the disposal of as slaves for obedience, you will be slaves for the benefit of this one whom you desire to obey, either the sin nature resulting in temporal spiritual death or obedience to the Father s will resulting in righteousness? In this passage, the noun does not refer to the imputation of divine righteousness to the sinner the moment he trusts in Jesus Christ as his Savior since in context Paul is addressing the subject of experiencing sanctification or in other words, fellowship with God, which takes place after being declared justified. Neither does the word refer to righteousness in the ultimate sense in a resurrection body since Paul is addressing his readers volitional responsibility and obligation to obey God and the resurrection, i.e. rapture of the church will take place apart from the believer s volition. Rather, the noun dikaiosune refers to the believer experiencing the righteousness of God, which was imputed to him by God the Father the moment he exercised faith in Jesus Christ as his Savior. This interpretation is supported by the fact that Paul s is addressing his readers volitional responsibility, which corresponds to experiential righteousness since it takes place when the believer obeys the Father s will. Now, in Romans 6:18, the noun dikaiosune appears once again. In this passage, the word is being personified by the verb douloo, which we translated became slaves. It is set in contrast to the noun hamartia, which refers to the sin nature. It too is being personified but by the verb eleutheroo, which we translated, having been set free. These two verbs eleutheroo and douloo both appear in Romans 6:22. The former speaks again of the believer being freed from the tyranny of the sin nature and the latter speaks of the believer being enslaved to God William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 18

19 Romans 6:22, But now having been freed (eleutheroo) from sin and enslaved (douloo) to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. Therefore, it is quite clear from the context, that dikaiosune in Romans 6:18 is synonymous with God as indicated by the fact that douloo is personifying it and that the verb douloo is used in Romans 6:22 with reference to God. Romans 6:18, And also, because having been set free from the tyranny of the sin nature, all of you became slaves of righteousness. Paul is actually employing the figure of metonymy of effect where the righteousness of God is put for God Himself who is the source of the Christians righteousness since the righteousness of God was imputed to the Christian the moment he exercised faith in Jesus Christ as his Savior. 1 Corinthians 1:30, But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption. Next, in Romans 6:19, the articular construction of the word is anaphoric meaning that the word was used in verse 18 and that its meaning in that verse is being retained here in verse 19. Therefore, dikaiosune is referring to the Father. Romans 6:19, I am speaking according to your human frame of reference because of the weakness, which is your flesh. Therefore, just as all of you placed your members as slaves at the disposal of and with respect to that which is impurity and in addition with respect to that which is lawlessness resulting in further lawlessness, in the same way, now, I solemnly charge all of you to place your members as slaves at the disposal of and with respect to righteousness resulting in sanctification and do it now! Also, furthering indicating that dikaiosune is a reference to the Father who as to His nature is righteousness is that the verb paristemi is personifying the noun. Therefore, since the noun dikaiosune is synonymous for God Himself, its articular construction emphasizes that God Himself is well-known to the reader. Now, in Romans 6:20, the noun again refers to God the Father who as to His nature is righteousness since the article is again anaphoric meaning that it was used in verse 19 and that its meaning is retained here in verse 20. Also further indicating that dikaiosune is a reference to the Father is that the adjective eleutheros, free is personifying it. Again, since the Father is in view here the article indicates that God who is righteous is well-known of course to Paul s readers. Romans 6:20, For you see, when all of you were once in a perpetual state of being slaves to the sin nature, all of you were in a perpetual state of being free with respect to righteousness William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 19